x
Breaking News
More () »

Virginia primary 2024: Voters cast ballots to pick U.S. House, Senate nominees

One of Virginia's two seats in the Senate, and all 11 House of Representatives seats are on the ballot on Nov. 5, 2024. Here are the latest updates across the state.

NORFOLK, Va. — It's Election Day for Virginia's primaries as voters across the Commonwealth pick who they want to represent them in the United States Congress later this year.

One of Virginia's two seats in the Senate, and all 11 House of Representatives seats are on the ballot on Nov. 5, 2024. 

Today, primary elections for those seats are being held, but several races already have party nominees in place, since those candidates didn't have anyone else running against them. To look up your voting districts and polling location, use the citizen portal on the Virginia Department of Elections website

RELATED: Who in Virginia is running for Congress? Here are the 2024 candidates.

Scroll through our live blog below for real-time updates from primary day throughout Virginia. Refresh this page for the most recent information, which will appear at the top of the timeline.

8:30 p.m. — Mehta wins VA-01 primary

The Associated Press projects former ACLU attorney Leslie Mehta has won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House election in Virginia's 1st Congressional District, defeating Army Colonel and 2022 nominee Herb Jones Jr. 

RELATED: Former ACLU attorney Leslie Mehta wins Democratic primary of Virginia's 1st District

8:15 p.m. — Cotter Smasal to take on Kiggans

Former small business owner Missy Cotter Smasal has won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House election in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, setting up a hotly-contested race with the first-term Republican Jen Kiggans.

RELATED: Missy Cotter Smasal wins Democratic nomination for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, will face Jen Kiggans in November

7:30 p.m. — Cao wins GOP Senate nomination

The Associated Press projects that retired Navy captain and Trump endorsee Hung Cao has won the Republican nomination for Virginia's 2024 U.S. Senate election, setting up a contest against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine.

RELATED: Hung Cao wins Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, will face off against Tim Kaine in November

7 p.m. — Polls close across Virginia

Polls have now closed in Virginia, although if you're still in line to vote, stay in line and you will be allowed to cast your ballot!

Election results should begin coming in shortly.  Check the 13News Now elections page for up-to-date results throughout the evening!

SEE ALSO: 13News Now Primary Election Results

6:45 p.m. — VA-02 candidates reflect on election

Before Tuesday's Primary election, more than 13,000 early votes had already been cast in the second congressional district race, a sprawling district that covers the Eastern Shore, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and portions of the Western Tidewater region.

Statewide, more than 70,000 early votes had been cast for the Senate primary race, split between the five Republican candidates looking to match up with Senator Tim Kaine in the upcoming November general election.

Over in the 2nd District, two Democrats are on the ballot to take on Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in a district that Joe Biden narrowly carried in the 2020 presidential contest against Trump. 

Navy veteran Missy Cotter Smasal is the leading fundraiser in the primary, with endorsements from former Govs. Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe, along with Spanberger and Wexton. 

“It’s really like a marathon, we’ve done the first half, gotten training in, all the right fuel and focused on the right things and now were going to go out for the second half and meet that goal," Cotter Smasal said Tuesday afternoon.

She said voters were enthusiastic for the primary.

"A bunch of instances where voters have come up and said ‘Oh, I’m so excited to cast my vote today for you' and they’ve consistently said, 'I want a change,'” she said.

Cotter Smasal faces constitutional law attorney Jake Denton.

“We're moving forward, the theme of my campaign has been finding common ground that starts with the family,” Denton said. 

Denton added: “Our big three issues, our economy, reproductive rights and the rule of law. That’s what’s important to people in this district, and we’ve been really well received from day one and I feel the momentum is building."

6 p.m. — 1 hour until Virginia polls close 

Polls will stay open until 7 p.m. Those in line by 7 p.m. will still be able to vote. To look up your polling location, use the tool on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

5:35 p.m. — Kiggans spokesperson criticizes VA-02 Dem primary as 'second place competition'

Under two hours before polls closed, a spokesperson for Republican U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans criticized the Democratic primary in a statement to 13News Now.

In the primary for the Hampton Roads district, former small business owner and Democratic establishment-backed Missy Cotter Smasal is facing Virginia Beach lawyer Jake Denton.

“The Democrat primary is little more than a second place competition to determine who can most closely align themselves with Joe Biden’s failing agenda," a campaign spokesperson for Kiggans wrote. "Congresswoman Kiggans flipped one of the most competitive seats in the country in 2022 - despite being outspent 3:1 last cycle - because voters in southeast Virginia soundly reject radical and destructive policies. While the out-of-touch liberal elite Democrats remain divided and disorganized, voters from across the political spectrum are united behind Jen Kiggans and will vote to send her back to Washington this November.”

11:45 a.m. — 4 things to know about Virginia's 2024 primaries

With voting underway for Virginia's 2024 primaries, there are several noteworthy things to watch, including a likely shoo-in in the 2024 U.S. Senate election, a possible "protest" vote in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, Republican infighting in Virginia's 5th District and two U.S. House primaries with crowded fields.

13News Now broke down four things to know about Tuesday's primaries.

RELATED: Is Tim Kaine favored to win Senate re-election? 4 things to know about Virginia's 2024 primaries.

11:30 a.m. — Plan to vote today? Here's a voter guide for you.

13News Now has gathered information about the candidates running, dates and deadlines, voter registration and more. Tap or click the link below to see what you need to know. 

RELATED: Virginia primary 2024: Candidates, voter registration lookup, early voting and more

6 a.m. — Polls are open across Virginia

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will stay open until 7 p.m. Those in line by 7 p.m. will still be able to vote.

13News Now will provide real-time updates from primary day throughout Virginia. Refresh this page for the most recent information, which will appear at the top of the timeline.

Where do I vote in 2024 Virginia primary?

To look up your polling location, use the tool on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Who is on the ballot for Virginia primary? Sample ballots by locality

In Virginia, there is no state-run centralized website to view sample ballots. Instead, each city and county registrar may have their sample ballots available online. Choose your locality below to visit their website:

What to know before voting

Before You Leave, Check This Out